The Splendor of Bald Cypresses

The golden hues of bald cypresses endow winter with a romantic aura. Visiting the Indigenous People’s Park in Taipei’s Shilin District, we see the reflected images of these deciduous conifers swaying in the shimmering lake. The interplay between the trees and their spectral reflections is brea......

To the Custodians of Our Stories

Reading the stories in this issue, I felt as if I was in a London market smelling the aromas of licorice and star anise wafting in the air, seeing that tree of uncertain identity—mandarin or pomelo?—in the backyard of an old house on Kinmen, and feeling the moist ceramic clay handled by four g......

The Tao of Doors:

Decoding Taiwan’s Door Gods

The most common door gods are Qin Shubao and Wei Chigong Huiji Temple, Zhishanyan. Painted by Zhuo Futian. Wei Chigong has a dark complexion and holds a whip. Qin Shubao has a rosy complexion and holds a gold truncheon. The Four Heavenly Kings are often used as door guardians in Buddhist templ......

Painted Protectors:

The Beauty of Taiwan’s Door Gods

When entering a temple in Taiwan, the first thing you’ll notice is a pair of “guards” painted on the door panels to welcome you. For Taiwanese, these door guards are a feature of everyday life, but as a first-time visitor, you may wonder just who they are.......

Calligraphic Wanderings:

Chu Chen-nan’s Pursuit of Art

Calligrapher and painter Chu Chen-nan has the courage to venture beyond his comfort zone. As a mature artist, he plunged himself several times into unfamiliar environments in Europe and America to pursue knowledge and inspiration. His gentle and affectionate temperament belies a self-­scrutini......

Scenes from Taiwan’s Zoos Across Five Decades

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Featured Story

Taiwanese Style Takes On the World

Reading the stories in this issue, I felt as if I was in a London market smelling the aromas of licorice and star anise wafting in the air, seeing that tree of uncertain identity—mandarin or pomelo?—in the backyard of an old house on Kinmen, and feeling the moist ceramic clay handled by four g......

Featured Story

The Making of Champions

What is the measure of a country? Is it territory or population, or is it the way its light shines in the inter­national community? In this month’s Taiwan Panorama, you will see an island that is small but resilient, using its astonishing capabilities in the fields of sports, artisanship, scie......

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Telling Taiwan’s Story to the World

For the last five decades, Taiwan Panorama has faithfully recorded Taiwan’s transformation and growth. We have witnessed the change from all-out pursuit of economic growth to environmental sustainability, and the progress of freedom, including women’s participation in society and the legalizat......

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Taiwan Culture in Europe 2025

When  the subject of Taiwan comes up abroad, the first things people think of may be labels like “chip island” and “democracy and freedom.” These are things that Taiwan can be proud of, but the soul of this island is really expressed in heartwarming moments of daily life and resilience in the ......

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A Second Spring for Old Towns

Reading this month’s Taiwan Panorama, you will get a sense of the richness and diversity of life in Taiwan, and the gentle power that pulses through this island. This power is not ostentatious, but has a warmth that fills people’s hearts and brings them together. It is ensconced in mountain te......

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Riding the Rails

Behind the scenes of our daily lives, there are many little-known stories and people who are quietly giving their all. This month we look at some of these “invisible” chapters in the book of life to help you better understand Taiwan’s cultural and natural beauty.......